The Wicked Character of Psychosocial Risks: Implications for Regulation

Jespersen, Anne Helbo; Hasle, Peter; Nielsen, Kurt Aagaard

doi:10.19154/njwls.v6i3.5526

Cited by 37 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…Renn (2008) categorized risks as linear or simple, complex, uncertain, or ambiguous, working with different approaches for risk management depending on the characteristics of the risk. However, the OHSAS standard does not distinguish between different types of OHS risks and it appears as if OHSAS 18001 treats psychosocial risks as linear or tame problems that can be identified and solved in the same mono-causal and technical-rational approach as that used for simple, visible, and tangible risks (Jespersen et al, 2016b). This approach in the standard may be one of the reasons for not adequately addressing psychosocial risk (Leka et al, 2011;Hohnen and Hasle, 2011;Frick and Kempa, 2011;Abad et al, 2013;Nielsen and Hohnen, 2014;Jespersen et al, 2016a).…”

Section: Ohs Management Systems Standards and Psychosocial Risksmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These features of psychosocial risk can be characterized as ''wicked problems" for various reasons (Rittel and Webber, 1973;Jespersen et al, 2016b). The term ''wicked problem" is used to characterize problems in society that are marked by unclear cause and effect relationships as well as complexity, uncertainty, and ambiguity in the problem-solving process (Head and Alford, 2013).…”

Section: The Nature Of Psychosocial Risksmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, the wicked problem construct can help to provide a better understanding of the challenges involved in managing psychosocial risks in practice. For a further discussion of the nature of psychosocial risks, see Jespersen et al (2016b).…”

Section: The Nature Of Psychosocial Risksmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, psychosocial risks are generally considered to be sensitive and related to power, and addressing them directly may be seen as an interference in the employers' prerogative (Bruhn and Frick, 2011;Walters, 2011). Taken together, psychosocial risks have a strong resemblance to what can be characterized as ''wicked problems" (Rittel and Webber, 1973;Jespersen et al, 2016b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The challenges for audits of psychosocial risks where we use the concept of wicked problems (Rittel and Webber, 1973;Jespersen et al, 2016b) as an important point of departure for understanding the special nature of psychosocial risks. Expansion of the audit knowledge base with data collection and assessment methods that are suitable for psychosocial risks.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Developing a concept for external audits of psychosocial risks in certified occupational health and safety management systems

Jespersen

Hasle

2017

Safety Science

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a b s t r a c tPsychosocial risks are closely related to work organization, management and organizational context. Therefore, the nature of psychosocial risks is complex and differs from more traditional OHS risks. The OHSAS 18001 standard explicitly claims to deal with all OHS risks, including psychosocial risks, and the audit is a key element in OHS management systems. However, the literature indicates that audits of psychosocial risk management are difficult and multifaceted, and the available practice excludes psychosocial risks from audits. Based on an analysis of the literature and available methodological approaches, we propose a new conceptual model for audits of psychosocial risk management. The model is grounded in the British ''Guidance on the management of psychosocial risks in the workplace" (BSI, 2011), which has recently been developed to remedy the shortcomings of the OHSAS standard. The model builds on an interpretation of audit evidence that includes an integration of general scientific knowledge regarding psychosocial risks with local contextual knowledge. A key tool for the application of the integration is realistic evaluation, which provides the opportunity to assess the link between psychosocial risk management measures and expected outcomes. Another important tool is the qualitative interview, which is the primary method for data collection. The concept has important implications for the dominant audit practice and auditor competencies. It leads to an expanded knowledge base and a broader concept of audit evidence that further presupposes considerable auditor resources, and changes the required knowledge base and skills of auditors.

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Section: Ohs Management Systems Standards and Psychosocial Risksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Nature Of Psychosocial Risksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Nature Of Psychosocial Risksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Developing a concept for external audits of psychosocial risks in certified occupational health and safety management systems

Jespersen

Hasle

2017

Safety Science

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An urgent call to address work‐related psychosocial hazards and improve worker well‐being

Schulte,

Sauter,

Pandalai

et al. 2024

American J Industrial Med

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Work‐related psychosocial hazards are on the verge of surpassing many other occupational hazards in their contribution to ill‐health, injury, disability, direct and indirect costs, and impact on business and national productivity. The risks associated with exposure to psychosocial hazards at work are compounded by the increasing background prevalence of mental health disorders in the working‐age population. The extensive and cumulative impacts of these exposures represent an alarming public health problem that merits immediate, increased attention. In this paper, we review the linkage between work‐related psychosocial hazards and adverse effects, their economic burden, and interventions to prevent and control these hazards. We identify six crucial societal actions: (1) increase awareness of this critical issue through a comprehensive public campaign; (2) increase etiologic, intervention, and implementation research; (3) initiate or augment surveillance efforts; (4) increase translation of research findings into guidance for employers and workers; (5) increase the number and diversity of professionals skilled in preventing and addressing psychosocial hazards; and (6) develop a national regulatory or consensus standard to prevent and control work‐related psychosocial hazards.

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Design Thinking: A New Approach for OHS Professionals to Address Complex Problems

Grøn

Broberg

2021

Proceedings of the 21st Congress of the International Ergonomics Association (IEA 2021)

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The Wicked Character of Psychosocial Risks: Implications for Regulation

Abstract: Psychosocial risks constitute a significant problem in most workplaces

Cited by 37 publications

References 43 publications

Developing a concept for external audits of psychosocial risks in certified occupational health and safety management systems

Developing a concept for external audits of psychosocial risks in certified occupational health and safety management systems

An urgent call to address work‐related psychosocial hazards and improve worker well‐being

Design Thinking: A New Approach for OHS Professionals to Address Complex Problems

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